Four-year-old girl killed by family dog in Saxony-Anhalt; mother and acquaintance under investigation

The attack

A four-year-old girl was bitten multiple times by a dog from her own family on Wednesday afternoon in Drosa, a village in the municipality of Osternienburger Land, Saxony-Anhalt. The child was playing with the animal in an apartment when it attacked. Several people present tried to separate the dog and the girl, but could not prevent severe injuries. An emergency doctor arrived and could only confirm the child's death at the scene.

Investigation

Police and the public prosecutor's office in Dessau-Roßlau have opened an investigation for negligent homicide. It is currently directed against the 32-year-old mother of the girl and a 30-year-old male acquaintance. The central question is whether the two adults could have prevented the attack. Emergency chaplains cared for the mother, and a crisis intervention team supported the police officers deployed.

Dog's history and breed

The dog was identified by investigators as an American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed classified as a fighting dog in Germany and subject to strict ownership conditions in most federal states. Some media reports described the animal as a pit bull. The mayor of Östernienburger Land told a regional broadcaster that the family's dog had already been involved in a previous biting incident, but had subsequently passed a temperament test.

The dog had already been involved in a biting incident before, but the animal had passed the 'temperament test' afterwards.

The dog was taken to an animal shelter with the help of a veterinarian. What will happen to the animal has not been disclosed.

Legislative response

Saxony-Anhalt's interior ministry is not ruling out changes to the state's dog law following the fatal attack. The incident will be comprehensively examined and evaluated, the ministry said. The aim of the law is to protect the population, especially children, from dangers posed by dogs.

Should the review of the incident reveal indications of a need to amend the dog-related regulations, an adaptation of the dog law of Saxony-Anhalt will be examined.